Adjustable insole



H. C. GEORGE.

ADJUSTABLE INSOLE.

APPucATloN FILED DEC. 17. 1917.

Patented May 30, 1922.

A tty inventor:

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unirse stares career cierres.

HARRY C.'GEORGE, OF MORRIS TOWNSHIP, MORRIS COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 ABROWSMITI-I MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

CORPORATION or NEW JERSEY.

OF MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY, A

ADJUsrABLE InsoLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May so, ieee.

Application led December 17, 1917. Serial No. 207,422.

Be it known that I, HARRY C. GEORGE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident ofthe townshipof Morris, in the count-y of Morris, Statek of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Insoles, of which the following is a specication.

The improvements relate to devices adapted to be placed in boots and shoes and to be used for thepurpose ofcorrecting abnormalities of the foot, and particularly to devices of this character which are commonly called insoles. f i

One of the common defects in the human foot is atende'ncy of the heel'to incline toward one side or the other. The physiological reasonsy for this need not be discussed, and the e'ect causing the wearing down" of the heel ofthe shoe and in many cases permanent displacement of the calcaneum or os calcis and deformity of the structure of the instep arch is well understood. Most cases of this kind, if taken in the incipient stages orbefore the abnormal tendency has developed to anyconsiderable extent, may be corrected. )The difficulty is that the tendency though recognized is neglected until the deformityy has progressed to such an extent as to become painful, at which stage complete correction is often. dilicult, if not impossible. It has therefore long been recognized by orthopedists and others who have to do with the correction of foot deformities, and by makers of foot wear and correcting devices that a simplev contrivance adapted-to be adjusted to meet all ordinary cases of the character indicated, which can,

be bought and adjusted by the user to suit his particular condition, is very desirable.

It is the primary object, therefore, of the e of an insole embodying the improvements,

with the parts adjusted to correcta tendency to Wear down on the inside of the heel of thcright foot; Figure 2 is a similar View of the same device with the parts adjusted to correct the same tendency toward the other side; Figure 3 is a Side elevation `of the device as illustrated in Fig. l; Figure Il is a verticalsection on the line 4 4 of Fig. l, and Figure 5 is a similar sectionon the line 5 5 of Fig. 2; Figure 6 is a detail of the removable tongue by which the adjustment to support one side of the foot to the other 1s made.

The insole consists of two pieces of flexible material A and B, preferably leather, cut to it the inside of the sole, of a shoe and to coincide therewith. These two pieces, forming the insole proper, extend from the heel to the ball of thefoot, or a little beyond that point. The design being .to have the insole extend ,from the calcaneum to the anterior metatarsal zone. They are secured together by two rows of stitches C and D extending from the forward part of the insole at the sides to a point near the middle of the heel and forming a V, and are also secured bv the marginal stitching E and F crossing the for the reception of the tongue G, or any other similar device for adjusting' the elevation of the upper surface of the insole. The pockets are indicated by the letters H, l and J, the former being the metatarsal pocket and the two, latter the heel pockets.

The vtongue G is of peculiar forni, on account of which it is adapted to be used for the purpose of correcting the heel deformity in question on either side of either foot. will be seen that it consists of a heel portion G and a tongue portion G2 extending therefrom, a notch or recess G3 being formed in one edge at the junction of the heel and tongue portions and adapted to receive' the point formed by the merger of the rows of stitches C and I). As this recess and the point of the stitches are located centrally the adjusting member (i may be reversed and moved from one side to the other as desired, and will coincide with the contour. of the insole and be securely held in position in both positions.. It is tapered from the back I Itk of the heel portion to the tip of the tongue portion, and from its outer edge toward its inner edge so that in both positions the outer edge ofthe. insole is elevated and the greatest elevation is at the back or extremity of the heel. v

The stitchesE and l-l also have a part in the holding of the adjusting piece G inasmuchas the tip of the tongue enters between the rearwardly extendin part of these stitches and the stitches and D, and is held thereby against lateral movement. In this mannerA` when. the adjusting piece is placed in position on either side ot' the insole it is locked by the engagement of the tip of the tongue just described and of the notch G3.

From the foregoing description it Will be seenthat an insole consisting of an insole proper and an adjusting insert is provided, which may be used to elevate `one side of the heel or the other, by simply removing, reversing and reinserting the insert, and that when this is done the parts are held securely in position. The usefulness of thel device.v however, is limited to insoles sold in pairs or for the right or the left foot, as it Will be apparent that one insole With the adjusting device may be used on both teet alternately. This is done by simply reversing the insole and applying it to the opposite foot, in which position it may by the adjustment of the insert G be used to support one side of theheel or the other. This enables the manufacturer to make and the dealer to keep in stockvan insole which may be sold singly for either foot or in pairs with a. single insert for each insole, which meets all the requirements andvis securely locked in all positions. i

vThe forward or metatarsal pocket H may beused to receive any elevating device desired, and it will be apparent that the adjusting device (l may be inserted therein to support one side or the other, or that a different device may be employed. To this end short, rows of stitches K and L have been provided in the said pocket H, uniting the two ieces A and B, and providing means for holding Wedges or other adjusting devices against lateral movement, by having them passed' between the said stitches are held by one or the other in manner similar to the engagement of the notch G3 by the point of the stitches C and D.

'What I claim is:

l. A device of the character described, comprising an insole proper of- 'flexible material, a piece of material adapted to be applied thereto and to have its major portion lie on one side of the longitudinalvaxis thereof, and means `for holding, the said piece of material located in the interior of the insole` said piece of material havingr a recess engaged by said holding means, said ,the insole, a holding means constructed to piece of material being movable to a position in which its major portion lies on the opposite side of said lon lgitudinalI axis, and in substantially the same relation to the insole as in the first position the said holding means being constructed and arranged to hold the said piece of material in both positions.

2. The combination of an insole proper constructed to conformapproximately to the -hcel portion of the sole of a shoe, a piece of material adapted to be applied thereto, and to lie in contact With the interior ot the insole throughout a portion of the area of limit lateral movement of the said piece said piece having a recess to receive and engage said means when placed inthe insole, said device and recess being located inthe interior of the insole and arranged to permit the said pieceto be inverted and to occupy a different position with respect to the insole and to also engage said means in thesaid position.

3. The combination o'f'an. insole proper constructed to conform approximately to the heel portion of the sole of a shoe. a piero of material adapted to be applied thereto, and to lie in contact with one horizontal surface thereof, throughout a portion ot the 95v area of the insole, a holding device constructed to limit lateral movement ot the said piece, said piece having. a recess 'adapted to receive andvengage said device. saizl deviceand recess being located centrally of the insole and arranged to permit the said piece to be inverted and to occupy a different position with respect to the insole and to also engage in the said position.

4. The combination of an insole proper,

comprising a plurality oi layers orA thick.- nesses of material, said layers being connected along a. line extending from. the rear toward the forward part thereof' and being disconnected at their rearA and a portion oF their side edges, an insert piece adapted to be passed into the space between the said layers and to engage the connected portions and to lie on one side of the insole and said insert being reversible to lie on theother side thereof and engage said connected portions. Y

5. In a device such as that set fortlrin, claim 9, said insert piece having .a thickened portion lon one side constructed and arranged to provide an elevated surface on that'side inl one position and on the other side when in invertedposition.

6. The combination. of an insole proper, comprising two layers -of material havinga line of fastenings extending from a point near one edgefto a medial point to the rear thereof, and from said medial point to a point near the opposite edge, saidconnecting line being in approximately the form of a Vl with the point thereof toward the a line of fastenings extendin from apoint heel of the insole, and a substantially latf near one edge to a medial point to the rear piece of material conforming approximately to a portion of one side of the insole adapted 6 to he inserted between the said layers, 'and to fill the space between the line of connection and the outer edge of said insole, and \said piece of material being reversible to Voccupy ythe same relative position with '10 respect to the other side.

7'. TheA combination of an insole proper, comprisin two layers of material having ,a line of astening's extending from a point near one edge to a medial point to the rear thereof, and from said medial point to a point near the opposite edge, anda substantially flat piece of material conforming approximately 'to a'portion of one side of the insole adapted to be inserted between the said layers, and to fill the space between the line Lof connection and the outer edfre of saidv insole, and said piece of materlal being reversible to occupy the same relative position with respect to the otherk side.

8. The combination of an insole proper, comprising two layers of material having a ,line of. fastenings extending from a point near one edge to a medial point to the ,rear

point near thebpposite edge, anda substantially flat piece of material conforming approximately to a portion of one side of:

thereof,` and from said medial point to a` thereof, and from said medial point to a point near the opposite edge, and a substantially fiat piece ofv material conforming approximately to a portion of one side of the insole adapted to be inserted between the said layers, and to lill the space between the line of connection and the outer edge of said insole, said piece of material being reversible to occupy the same relative position with respect to the other side, and said insole also having a line of fastenings extending along its edges at the extremities of the first named fastening line and forming with the said first named fastening line .a, pocket for thew reception yof a portion of said insertable piece.

10. The combination' of an'insole proper, A

comprising two layers of material having. a line of fastenings extending from a point near one ed e to a medial point to the-rear thereof, an from said medial point to a point near. the .opposite edge, and a substantially Hat piece of material conforming approximately to a portion of one side of the insole adapted to be inserted between the said layers, and to fill the space `between the line of connection and the outer ed e of saidvinsole," and said piece of materia being reversible to occupy the same relative position with respect to the other side, said insertable piece having a recess adapted to receive the rearward portion ofthe connecting line, and said insole also having `a line of fastenings extendin along its edges at the extremities of the line and forming with the said first named fastening line a pocket for the reception of 'a portion of said insertable piece.

`Witness my hand this 28th day of Novem.-

ber, 1917, at the city of Morristown, in the' county of Morris and State of New Jersey.

' HARRY C. GEORGE.

rst named fastening 

